Staff
All of our teachers have professional performing experience and a proven desire for teaching. They are all, naturally, CRB checked for their suitability for work with young people and benefit from ongoing training and advice from senior teachers.
James Dakers, Principal
External inspection remarks: "The teacher delivers lessons in all three disciplines, to a very high standard with many examples of outstanding practice. He successfully combines high expectations with warmth, humour and fun".
- National Diploma in Performing Arts: Musical Theatre (Triple Distinction)
- Professional Performing Experience
- Extensive Teaching Experience across the UK
- Fully CRB checked
- Licensed Chaperone
- Direction, Musical Direction and Choreographic Credits
James has trained in all aspects of Musical Theatre from a young age. He has also worked for a number of theatre schools across the UK and performs regularly, both in the West End and in local theatres. Recently James appeared as 'Buttons' in Cinderella at Ludlow Assembly Rooms and he is looking forward to joining the cast of "West End on Tour" when they come to The Courtyard in June 2012.
Theatre credits include: 'Oliver' (Charlie Bates), 'Fiddler on the Roof' (Nachum), 'South Pacific' (Lt. Buzz Adams), 'Oklahoma!' (Dream Curly), 'Guys and Dolls' (Benny Southstreet), 'The Gondoliers' (Antonio), 'Happy as a Sandbag' (Ensemble), 'Calamity Jane' (Lt. Danny Gilmartin), 'Salad Days' (Timothy), 'My Fair Lady' (Freddy Eynsford-Hill), 'Kiss Me, Kate' (Hortensio/Dancer), 'Chicago' (Billy Flynn and Choreographer), 'Hello Dolly' (Ensemble), 'The Pajama Game' (Hines), High School Musical (Dance Captain/understudy Ryan), 'Sweeney Todd' (Sweeney Todd), 'Peter Pan' (Peter) and Coram Boy (Thomas).
James also has a number of West End credits to his name including: ‘Life on Earth’ with ATA productions at the Palladium and ‘Sunsets and Mornings’ at Her Majesty’s Theatre. James' students have also appeared in West End productions of "Oliver" alongside Rowan Atkinson, "The Sound of Music" alongside Connie Fisher and "Mary Poppins"!'
James’ teaching experience encompasses all three Musical Theatre disciplines.
He has taught Drama for Stagecoach Harpenden and Stagecoach St Albans and as well
as all of his own teaching commitments, is currently Early Stages teacher for Stagecoach
Aylesbury and Stagecoach Harpenden and teaches Singing/Voice for the Further Stages course (ages 16 - 21) at Stagecoach High Wycombe & Marlow.
As a Director and Choreographer, James has worked on "Hairspray", "Little Shop of Horrors", "The Wiz", “A Chorus Line”,
“Fame”, “Beauty and the Beast” and “Kiss
me, Kate” at the Radlett Centre. He now works as a private Musical Theatre
coach for many clients in London and Herefordshire. James is also Artistic Director
of Thame Youth Theatre and has judged for the national Singing competition, "Open
Mic UK".
James is Executive Producer for Starshowcase Productions (UK) for whom he has directed 'The Last 5 Years' at Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury and 'Cinderella' at The Assembly Rooms, Ludlow. James is directing for the National Theatre again this year. Last year he took his production of "Gargantua" to the Oxford Playhouse; this year he is bringing "Little Foot" to The Courtyard as part of the Connections project.
Louise Flitney, Assistant Principal (Ludlow and Hereford)
- National Diploma in Performing Arts: Dance (Triple Distinction)
- Fully qualified ISTD teaching associate
- Wealth of Performing Experience
- Extensive Teaching Experience across the UK
- Fully CRB checked
Louise trained at the Julie Morton School of Dance and went on to complete her national diploma in Performing Arts at West Herts College where she achieved triple distinction. She is an Associate of the ISTD and is an accomplished dancer in many different styles (including Ballet, Contemporary, Tap, Jazz, Ballroom , Disco, Rock ‘n’ Roll and Hip-Hop).
Production credits include: Cinderella (also choreographer) Fame, West Side Story, Grease, The Nutcracker and Dancing through the Decades. Louise also appeared in a musical theatre variety show at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London.
As a choreographer Louise has worked on 'The Wiz', 'Billy Elliot', 'Peter Pan', ‘The Nutcracker’, ‘Dance through the decades’, ‘World war 2’, ‘A Grimm Night’, ‘High School Musical’, ‘Honk’ and a West End Variety Show.
Louise currently teaches for Stagecoach Leighton Buzzard, Stagecoach High Wycombe & Marlow and also runs her own dance school in Leominster. Louise is responsible for all our youngest students in Downstage.
Christina O’Neill, Administrator/Book-Keeper and Production Manager
Closely involved in all areas from the very start, Christina deals with the day to day running of the business as well as helping with the production of LightsDown shows.
Christina brings a wealth of business experience to LightsDown from a very diverse background including:
- Telecommunications (Senior Data Processing Officer, British Telecom, St Albans),
- Banking (Cashier Clerk, Abbey National, Harpenden),
- Finance (GP Fundholding Manager, Davenport House Surgery, Harpenden),
- Adminstration/Book-Keeping (Access Communications, Web Site Design Company, Harpenden),
- Estate Agency (Lettings Manager, Premier Move, Harpenden, Negotiator/PA to Chartered Building Surveyor, Mc Cartneys, Leominster)
She is a partner in LightsDown Theatre School.
Other Associates:
- Kerry Ellis - Patron, recently "Nancy" in Oliver and "Elphaba" in Wicked
- Tone Draper - Company Stage Manager
- James Farrington - Lighting Designer
- Ryan Doolan - Sound Designer
- Jordan Leech - Downstage Teacher at LightsDown Hereford
All of our teachers are CRB checked, professional performers. If you are interested in working for us then please get in touch.
We are keen to hear from people who would like to work with us to launch further Downstage classes for 4 - 8 year olds. Full training provided.
